Aerial banner



May 28, 1940; M. s; DU PONT r 2,202,771

' AERIAL BANNER Filed llay 26, 1933 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 M311 5. DUPONT E Gttorneg May 28, 1940. M. s. DU PQNT AERIAL BANNER.

Filed May 26, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Imp enter Mqfiir SDUPoNz (Ittor neg May 28, 1940, M. s. DU PONT 2,202,771

AERIAL BANNER Filed llay 26, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Snnentor A {AHK S. DUPONT May 28, 1940; M. s. DU PONT AERIAL BANNER Filed May 26. 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Zhwentor M1211" S DUPOZVZ".

May 28, 1940. M a DU O 2,202,771 AERIAL BANNER I Filed May 26, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A fi \\\\\\T\ L\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\|\\\\\\\\\\\\TV' (Ittotneg Patented May 28, 1940 PATENT OFFICE AERIAL BANNER Mark S. Du Pont, Darby, Pa., assignor to Kellett Autogiro Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application May 26, 1933, Serial No. 673,083

7 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful aerial banner and it relates more particularly to an aerial banner of a certain new and useful construction, adapted to be towed by aerial vehicles ,5 such as airplanes, autogiros, dirigibles and the like.

My present invention relates further to certain novel features of construction in aerial banner, whereby'the same may be constructed more efiiciently, and whereby the copy may be made up more readily so as to facilitate the change in copy from one advertisement to another. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to build aerial banners in such a manner that the same may be assembled and broken down into individual letters quickly, and with the minimum loss of time or material.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction which will appear more fully from the following detailed description.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings, forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents a schematic view in elevation, of a towed aerial advertising banner em bodying the present invention, showing more particularly the general arrangement of the stringers of a banner.

Figure 2 represents a side elevational view, on a much enlarged scale (approximately one-third to one-half full size) of the swivel juncture memher at the leading end or tip of the towing bridle, the location of which is indicated in Figure 1 by the numeral 2.

Figure 2A represents a topplan view of the swivel juncture member at the leading end or tip of the towing bridle.

Figure 3 represents a side elevational view, on a much enlarged scale, (approximately one-third to one-half full size) of the detachable anchorage and release for the front end of the tow line, the general location of which is indicated in Fig* ure 1 by the numeral 3.

Figure 4 represents a side elevational view, (approximately full size) of the metallic clamp and hanger at the top of the front spreader bar or spacer bar, the general location of which is indicated in Figure 1 by the numeral 4.

Figure 5 represents a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 represents a side elevational view, on a much enlarged scale (approximately half-size) of the juncture of the stringers with a spreader bar or spacer bar, with the outer covering or spiral wrapping removed at the juncture so as to expose to view the interior construction thereof. This juncture is generally similar at all points of intersection between stringers and spreader bars, as indicated by the numeral 6 in Figure 1.

Figure '7 represents a side elevational view of the lower end of the front or leading spacer bar or spreader bar, the general location of which is indicated in Figure 1 by the numeral 1.

Figure 8 represents a section on line 8-43 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 represents a side elevational View, on a much reduced scale, of an aerial banner with the front towing bridle omitted, showing one embodiment or one of the features of' the present invention.

Figure 10 represents a similar side elevational view showing a modified embodiment or another feature of the present invention.

Figure 11 represents a side elevational view of one of the stabilizers at the end of the banner, shown on a somewhat larger scale, and slightly more in detail.

Figure 12 represents a fragmentary elevational View of a portion of a banner, showing another embodiment or another feature of the present invention.

Figure 13 represents a section on line I3-l3 of Figure 9, shown on a much enlarged scale.

Figure 13A represents a perspective view of one of the ends of the tubular stringer passageway which is sewed to the letters, showing the manner in which the ends of the tubular passage-- way may be doubled back upon themselves.

Figure 14 represents a section on line l4--I4 of Figure 12.

Figure 14A represents a fragmentary perspective vie-w, partly in section, of a modified form of letter and stringer constructions, similar to that shown in Figures 12, 14, 21 and 22.

Figure 15 represents a side elevational view of a fragmentary rmrtion of the banner shown in Figure 10, illustrated on a much enlarged scale.

Figure 16 represents a section on line l6l5 of Figure or on line lli-l6 of Figure 10.

Figure 17 represents a side elevational view of a fragmentary portion of the leading edge of the stabilizer shown in Figure 11, shown on a much enlarged scale.

Figure 18 represents a section on line 18-18 of Figure 17, or line l8-l8 of Figure 11.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary portion of the rear end of the stabilizer on a much enlarged scale.

Figure 20 represents a section on line 2Zl-2Q of Figure 11 or Figure 19.

Figure 21 represents an enlarged view of a juncture between the flat stringer tapes and spacer bars shown in Figure 12, illustrating a modified form of construction.

Figure 22 represents a section on line 22-22 of Figure 21.

The banner is formed of a series of longitudinal flexible members, lines, or so-called stringers, which carry the letters or other symbols of the banner. In Figure l, the longitudinal stringers are generally referred to by the numeral 21. These stringers may be either continuous or integral, or they may be made up of sections of suitable lengths united with each other so as to form a generally continuous line. The stringers 2! are fastened, at their points of intersection, to spacer bars or members 22 and 23 (Figure 1). To the front or leading spacer bar or spreader bar 22, a bridle 24 is secured, consisting of two or more converging lines 25, 26 and 21, which converge at a juncture 23, where they are preferably united by a metallic swivel member 29. To form the bridle 2 3, the upper bridle line and the tow line 36 are preferably formed integrally, that is, the tow line 30 is extended to the point t at the top of the leading spacer bar 22. A clamp 31 consisting of the two semi-annular members 32 and 33, is fastened to the tow line at the point 2, by means of a screw or bolt 34, the line 25 4!) being first suitably taped with an adhesive tape or the like before the two semi-annular halves of the clamp 31 are fastened thereto. The clamp is then also preferably covered with adhesive tape. The swivel member 29 consists of an annular metallic ring 35, the inner opening of which is suitably less than the outer diameter of the clamp 3|. To two generally diametrically opposite points of the ring 35, the two ends of the metallic eyelet 36 are secured, as by welding at 31, and a similar point on the opposite side (not visible in Figure 2) By this means, the ring 35 and the eyelet 36 are free to swivel about at line 2530. To the eyelet 36, the bridle members 21 and 26 are secured, as indicated in Figure 2, by being suitably looped therethrough, and the ends thereof wrapped with suitable twine or cord, as at 38.

At a suitable point on the fuselage of the aircraft or aerial vehicle 39, as for instance at the point indicated by the numeral 3, a detachable anchorage member 40 is provided, including the bifurcated lower pivot support ll, between the two side plates or flanges of which the hook 42 is pivotally secured by means of the pivot bolt 43. A generally U-shaped latch member Ml is also pivotally mounted at 45, and is adapted normally to engage the free end 46 of the hook 42, as indicated in Figure 3. A tension arm 4'1 is also provided on the latch member and a helical tension spring 28 having its upper end fastened to any suitable stationary anchor 49, serves yieldably to retain the latch 44 in engagement with the end 56 of the hook 22. A release arm 50 is fastened to one or both sides of the U-shaped and I pivotally mounted latch member 44, as by welding, and to the free end of the arm 59, a release 7 cable 5| is pivotally secured as at 52. The release cable 5| extends into the cock-pit or control cabin of the aircraft, where a suitable handle or ring is fastened thereto, whereby the pilot or operator may release the hook 42 by pulling upon the cable 5i, thereby causing a deflection of the U-shaped latch M in the direction of the arrow 53. Such deflection of the latch 44 releases the free end 46 of the hook 2 and permits the looped end 54 of the tow line 30 to slip off the hook 2. The hook 4-2 is so shaped with respect to its pivotal support 43, that a line extending from the pivotal axis generally to the point where the loop 52 comes to rest upon the hook, will intercept the lower portion 55 of the hook at an included angle slightly greater than 90. By this means, the loop 5% will slide off the hook, (when the latter is released) more readily. This tends to insure against failure of the release mechanism.

The construction of the leading or floor edge of the banner is indicated particularly in Figures 4, 5, 7 and 8, while one form of construction of the intermediate spacer bars is indicated in Figure 6.

The spacer bars or spreader bars are indicated in Figure 1 by the numeral 23, with the exception of the leading or front spacer bar or spreader bar which is indicated by the numeral 22.

These spacer bars or spreader bars are preferably hollow and generally tubular bamboo rods 56, and are built up further by spirally wrapping the same with a textile tape, preferably a woven tape 51 cut parallel to the warp or the weft. The spirally wrapped textile tape 51 is also preferably adhesively secured by suitable cement or adhesive material such as a cellulose cement, or a solution of Celluloid or other cellulose product, such as lacquer or the like.

To the upper end of the front spreader bar or spacer bar 22, a metallic connector member 58 is secured. The connector member 58 includes the two generally semi-cylindrical portions 55 and Gil, which are adapted to surround the bamboo rod 55, as shown particularly in Figure 5,

and having forwardly and rearwardly projecting flanges 60 and BI, respectively, through which bolts, screws or other fastening means 62 are 5 One of these U- 5 i of the upper longitudinal stringer 10, and of the diagonal tension members H and l2.'

The lower end of the front spacer bar or spreader bar 22 is provided with a generally similar metallic connector member 74, to the front end of which the looped end 15 of the lower bridle line 26 is secured, and to the rear end of which the front end of the lower longitudinal stringer 1'5 may be secured. The stringer 16 may also be secured to the spreader bar 22 adjacent to the metallic connector member M, as this also transmits the tension in the stringer 76 to the bridle line 26 through the connector 14, as shown in Figure 7.

Also to the lower end, or near'the lower end of the front or leading spacer bar or spreader bar 22, a lead or other suitable metallic weight 11 is secured, by means of a plurality of similar metallic strips or bands 18, the central portions of which are cast in place in the lead body as indicated at'19, and the free ends 80 of which are secured to each other by clamping screws and nuts or similar fastening means 8 I.

The letters or symbols 82, indicated particularly in Figures 9, 10, and 12 to 16 inclusive, are formed of a suitable thin textile fabric, preferably a thin woven fabric cut warp-wise and weft-wise, that is, with the warp and weft running vertically and horizontally (or vice versa) with respect to the letters.

In one embodiment, as shown particularly in Figures 9 and 13, I provide generally longitudinal tape members 83, sewn to the letter by a series of generally parallel lines of sewn stitches 84. The tape 83 is preferably doubled upon itself, or is a tubular tape, so that a passageway 85 is provided between two plies of tape material, through which the stringer members 86 may be drawn, without coming into contact with the fabric of the letter. The tape 83 may also be doubled up at its two ends 81 and 88, for a slight distance (by folding the ends back upon themselves) so as to provide a thickened tape wall better to resist the action of the stringers when in towed flight. After the stringer members 86 have been drawn through the tape passageways 85, and have been properly positioned with respect to the letters, the letters are sewed or otherwise fixedly secured to the stringer members 86 by sewing at the points 81, that is, by sewing the letters to the stringers at the intersection of the leading edge of the letters by said stringer members. The stitches being extended through the thickened terminal tape portions.

As stated above, instead of extending the stringers continuously through the entire length of the banner, the stringers may be formed in sections, such as the sections indicated by the numerals 86, which may be extended through the letters and fastened to the letters at the point 81, and which may then be tied by knots 89 to one of a pair of opposed loops 90 and 9|. The pairs of opposed loops 90 and 9| are preferably permanently secured to the spacer bars or spreader bars 23 (and also 22) in a manner indicated in Figure 6, being laced around and tied to the bamboo 56 and then taped over with the spirally wrapped and adhesively secured woven textile tape 51 in a manner indicated by the dotted'lines in Figure 6. Thus, to assemble a banner, the individual letters, with their respective stringer sections 86 (inserted and secured at the points 81) are selected by the desired wording or copy I and are then fastened to spacer bars or spreader bars 23, by tying the ends of the stringer members or sections 86 to the connector loops 90 and 9|, there being a pair of connector loops along each bamboo rod corresponding in number and spacing to the number and spacing of the stringer members 86 and tapes 83.

The rear or trailing ends of the tapes 83, that is, where the stringers intersect the trailing edges of the letters or letter portions, are preferably closed up by sewing, so that the tape closely surrounds or closely hugs the stringer where the stringer leaves the trailing edge of the letter or letter portion. This does not prevent the trailing edge of the letter or letter portion from sliding upon and. adjusting itself upon the stringers,

but prevents the vibration of the letter with respect to the stringer along the trailing edges. This tends to a greater durability of the letter.

In Figures 10, 15 and 16, there is illustrated a modified form of construction, wherein the spreader bars or spacer bars 92 also of generally hollow or tubular bamboo are mounted directly in or associated directly with the'leading edges and also, if desired, with the trailing edges of the letters, instead of being disposed in between adjacent letters. In this form of construction, a tape passageway 93 is provided along the leading edges of the letters, and if desired, also on the trailing edges thereof, this passageway being formed by sewing two plies 94 and 95 of a suitable tape or suitable thick textile fabric to the edges of the letter 82, by lines of stitches indicated by the numerals 96 and 91. In this embodiment, stringer sections or portions 98 are extended through the longitudinal tape members 83, (similar to that illustrated in Figures 9 and 13) and a loop 99 is provided on each of the two ends of the stringer sections or stringer members 98. The loop 99 extends to the upright or transverse tape passageway 93, where an opening I is provided in the outer tape ply 95. A bamboo rod IUI is extended through the tape passageway 93, and through the loop 99 of the stringer members 98. The bamboo rod IIII also engages a similar loop I02 formed on the rear end of each of the stringer members of the preceding letter. If desired, the portions of the stringer intermediate the two letters may be formed of separate pieces and looped onto the bamboo rods I M in a similar manner. In this manner, the stringers may be left permanently in the letters or connected with the letters, and the letters may be assembled merely by threading bamboo rods through the opposite loops from the stringers of two adjoining letters, or through the loops from the stringer of one letter and connecting stringer portions. By this means also, greater rigidity is provided in the letter, and thinner spacer bars or rods IIII may be employed, since they occur with greater frequency.

In Figures 12 and 14, a modified form of construction is shown, wherein the stringer is formed of relatively fiat tape of suitable dimensions and tensile strength, and wherein the stringers are made up of sections permanently attached to the letter by sewing. Thus, the stringer is formed of stringer sections I04, generally of equal length on the same letter, to which the letter is sewed by lines of sewn stitches I and I96, while the tape is under tension and the fabric flat, though slack. By thus uniting the fabric of the letter with the tape while the latter is under suitably greater tension than the former, the fabric of the letter is shielded from the tension in the stringers when the banner is in towed flight. Thus, the tension put into the stringers while the letters are being sewed thereto, is more or less equal to the tension in any stringer while the banner is in towed flight, so that the stretch in the stringer tapes will not stretch the fabric beyond its normal or initial condition. Thus, the tension due to the towed flight is borne by the much heavier and flat tape-like stringer members and is not borne by the letters. The tape-like stringer members I04 are then fastened to intermediate spacer bars or spreader bars I01, either by tying the same to opposed terminal loop-s similar to the loops 99 and 9I shown in Figure 6, or they may be tied or taped directly to the spacer bars I01. By this means, the letters may be assembled to form any suitable.copy in the resultant banner.

In Figures 21 and 22 a modified form of construction is illustrated, wherein the tape-like stringer members id i- (Figure 12) are provided with terminal loops I38, which are preferably formed by folding back the terminal portions of the tapes upon themselves and securing the folded-over ends to the body of the tapes by sewing or by other suitable means. The corresponding looped ends of the tapelike stringer members I94 are then united to each other by means of a spacer bar it which is extended through the loops, with corresponding loops disposed directly above each other in generally adjacent relation. The looped ends l 35! may then be fastened against sliding movement on the spacer bar lll'i, either by means of an adhesive tape wound about the looped ends and the spacer bar adjoining the same, or by providing suitable holes till, i322, and I33 through the spacer bar, at each juncture, and threading suitable tie members Kid and E35 through said holes and around the looped ends of the tape-like stringers.

v According to another form of construction, the tape-like stringers, shown in Figures 12, 14, 21 and 22, may be replaced wholly or in part bya thickening of the web of the fabric of which the letters are formed, along a series of parallel lines corresponding to the positions of the stringers. Thus, the letter fabric may be woven with suitable parallel stn'ps formed of thicker or stronger warp threads (or weft threads) so that the tapelike stringer members will be formed integrally with the fabric of the letters, particularly where the tape-like stringer members would overlap the letters (as in Figure 12). These thickened or strengthened bands of the letter-fabric may then be connected to each other by tapes sewn or otherwise fastened thereto, and tied to each other or to the spreader bars or spacer bars, either in the manner shown in Figure 12, or in the manner shown in Figures 21 and 22.

It will be understood} that the leading spacer bar 22 is always preferably of the form shown in Figures l, 5, 7 and 8, and the bridle is similar to that hereinabove described.

In Figures 11, 17, 18, 19 and 20, the structural features of the rear stabilizer members 509 are illustrated. Each of the stabilizer members its is provided with a generally annular member or ring lid preferably formed of metallic tubing, as indicated in Figure 18, around which the front end of the generally conical fabric member i ii is wrapped, as indicated in Figure 18. The body fabric H2 has an inner reinforcing fabric layer i it of stronger material sewed thereto by lines of sewn stitches H4, and the two plies H2 and H3 are then wrapped around the ring H and fastened to each other by lines of sewn stitches l lb. Metallic eyelets l 86 are extended through the two plies of fabric H3 and the two plies of fabric H2, directly behind the ring H0, and through said eyelets (three or more in number and equally distributed around the periphery), the loops Ill of the lines 5 it are extended. The lines H8 converge to a common juncture point I l9, where they are fixedly united to a common tow line lZll, to the front end of which a metallic swivel hook 92% is secured, said swivel hook having a spring lock or latch E22, and a swivelled eyelet I23. By this means, the stabilizer members H39 may rotate freely about their axis, without exerting any twist or torsional force upon the banner. The hooks I2! are hooked onto suitable lines or loops 824 at the rear end of the banner.

The rear end of the stabilizer memberNJS is also reinforced by a reinforcing ply of stronger material, as for instance, the reinforcing ply I25,

which is sewed thereto by lines of sewn stitches. 125, the rear peripheral edge being folded back as at I27 and fastened by a line of sewn stitches stringer members associated with successive let-' ters may be fastened to each other without-11h intervention of a spacer bar.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is hereby claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is: l

l. A towed aerial advertising banner including a series of letters or other symbols formed of textile webbing, a series of generally longitudinal stringer members affixed to each of said letters in generally non-slidable relation thereto generally throughout the zones where the stringers stringer members aflfixedto each of said letters in generally non-slidable relation thereto generally throughout the zones where the stringers overlap the letters, a spacer bar intermediate adjacent letters connected with said stringers and a relatively long tow line connected to the leading spacer bar and adapted to the attached to an aerial vehicle for towing said banner a substan tial distance behind the same.

3. A towed aerial advertising banner including a series of letters or other symbols formed of textile webbing, a series of generally longitudinal stringer members aifixed to each of said letters in generally non-slidable relation thereto generally throughout the zones where the stringers overlap the letters, means for demountably interconnecting the stringers of adjacent letters, a spacer bar intermediate adjacent letters connected with said stringers, and transverse spacer bars interconnecting said stringers intermediate said letters or other symbols and at the ends of said banner, and arelatively long tow line connected to the leading spacer bar and adapted to be attached to an aerial vehicle for towing saidv banner a substantial distance behind the same.

i. A towed aerial advertising banner including tending along and connected with the leading edges of said letters, and a plurality of longitudinal stringer members fastened to said letters generally throughout their common extent and under relatively greatertension than that of the,

letters and said stringer members being also fastened to said bars, so that tension exerted upon said stringers will not be substantially transmitted to the webbing of said letters.

5. A towed aerial advertising banner including a plurality of letters formed of thin, limp textile webbing, a pluralityof multi-ply bands of textile strips sewed thereto to form generally enclosed longitudinal passageways across said letters, said passageways defining the top and bottom edges of each of said letters and the intermediate horizontal edges or said letters, stringers extended through said passageways, means for affixing at least the leading edge of the letters to said stringers.

6. In an aerial banner, a plurality of letters formed of textile webbing, a plurality of multiply bands of textile strips sewed thereto, to form generally enclosed longitudinal passageways across said letters, stringers extended through said passageways'means for afiixing at least the leading edge of the letters to said stringers, transverse spacer bars associated with said stringers, and means for demountably connecting the stringers of adjacent letters to said spacer bars.

7. A towed aerial advertising banner including a series of letters or other symbols formed of suitable thin textile webbing, relatively stiff spreader bars and a plurality of longitudinal stringer members fastened to said letters generally throughout their common extent and under relatively greater tension than that of the letters and said stringer members being also fastened to said bars, so that tension exerted upon said stringers will not be substantially transmitted through the, Webbing of said letters;

MARK S. DU PONT. 

